Do you label your Quilts? And How!?
How dedicated are you to labelling your quilts? All of your quilts?!
Umm, in all honesty, unless there is an immediate need to do so, I often walk away at this step with a vague intention of “doing it later”. Unless the quilt is facing a show entry deadline, or is to be sold, or something similarly dire. Because there are soooooo many more fun tasks that need doing in my sewing room than adding quilt labels. Yet, I am the first to admit this is silly. I actually think it is rather important to label my quilts, so a lack of labels causes me a mild sense of guilt and regret when I see my otherwise finished quilts languishing in the labelling queue.
This is why I have made labelling the quilts in my queue my One Monthly Goal for February. Moving these quilts on will be a weight off my mind. Although my furry helper will not be so pleased…… unless I put them back on the stack when I am done.
Two really good reasons to label your quilts
The two best reasons why you and I should concientiously label our quilts are to: declare ownership; and to record their origin. If you happen to lose your quilt accidentally (or worse), a quilt label is the most likely means by which it will be located and returned. It is exceedingly difficult to trace the owner of an anonymous quilt.
But hopefully your quilts will never suffer a misadventure and need returning. Instead, wouldn’t it be lovely if they were used and treasured and passed down for years to come? Well, this is more likely with if they’re labelled too. Quilt labels provide a connection between the quilt maker and the user, even when they have never met. Knowing that a quilt was made by someone or for someone in my family tree, or a friend, gives it value to me that is independent of the craftsmanship, design or colours. If I am rationalising my possessions for any reason, I am far more likely to keep a quilt of some sentimental value than a random quilt. A quilt that was made with love for a specific reason should always declare its pedigree and purpose. For its own good!
My favourite methods of labelling quilts
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I have used quite a few methods to label my quilts including machine embroidery of the binding for double sided quilts and free-motion stitching of the patchwork before quilting for others. But here are my two favourite methods I use regularly.
- The easiest and quickest way to label a quilt is to write on it directly with a permanent pen. I draw guidelines with chalk first. This method is great for minis and informal quilts….. like my Jolly Rogeena mug rug from earlier in the week, because it is fast and instant. The pen I use religiously for this job is the superfine dark sepia 175 Faber-Castell PITT artist pen. I really like this pen for lots of reasons….. it doesn’t bleed, it is acid-free, water-fast and really fade resistant. I like the dark sepia colour because it is easy to read on most fabrics but doesn’t look as stark as a true black. Of course PITT pens come in other colours including black if you’d rather, and also in a fine nib and a medium nib.
- But my handwriting is pretty ghastly, so mostly I take the time to add more formal quilt labels to my quilts. Adding a label to your finished quilt gives you a lot of freedom to change it up, without worrying about getting it wrong on your precious quilt or the long-term consequences of pen on fabric (if there are any). Here is the method that I use for nearly all my labels for lap quilts and larger. As an illustration I will show you the quilt that I labelled yesterday as part of my One Monthly Goal.
My most reliable quilt label method – Or – How I print Quilt Labels with my Laser Printer
Oh yes. Despite all the apocalyptic warnings about putting strange things through my laser printer, I do this. All the time. And, touch wood, I have never caused a train wreck yet. Not even tears and bad words.
Step 1
Prepare the text you would like on your label in your favourite text editor. Play with the wording, font, size and layout until you are happy. Add details such as the name of the quilt/design, the designer’s, patchworker’s and quilter’s name(s), The location and date the quilt was made, who it was for and why, laundering instructions, and anything else you would like recorded. Print it on an ordinary piece of paper.
Step 2
Cut a piece of fabric large enough to cover the text plus any margin around the text that you require, plus a quarter inch seam allowance all around. Light colours work well….. if you have issues with shadowing through your label you can always line it with a second piece of fabric later. I chose a fabric with stars and swirls because this label is going on a space-themed quilt.
Cut a piece of Reynolds freezer paper the same size as the fabric or just a fraction smaller and iron onto the reverse side of your label fabric.
Step 3
Layer the freezer paper-backed fabric over your printed text, fabric side up. Use paper-based 1″ wide masking tape to tape the fabric to the paper. Important: Make sure that the edges of the fabric are fully enclosed in tape. There should be absolutely NO freezer paper showing beyond the fabric or tape. I tape the sides first, then top and bottom to ensure that the removal direction of the tape is perpendicular to the direction of paper flow in my printer.
Step 4
When my fabric is prepared properly in this way, I can put this setup through my laser printer with no issues. I do it regularly and have done so for years. See….
But please note, I am not telling you that you can definitely do it too, as I don’t know your printer or your circumstances. If you chose to try this method proceed with CAUTION, and do not ever run any exposed freezer paper (or any that could possibly work loose) through a laser printer!! And only use quality masking tape. I am not liable for any damage you do to any laser printer if you try this. I am just telling you how I do it.
Inkjet printers are more robust for this sort of activity, but I don’t have one. If you have one….. use it, but make sure you know how to permanently set the ink in the next step.
Step 5
Once your label is printed, remove the printer paper and masking tape but leave the freezer paper attached. Heat-set the toner by pressing the label with a very hot iron. The toner should actually already be set straight out of the printer, but it doesn’t hurt to make sure, especially if your printer is aging and the fuser is tired.
(If you used an Inkjet printer, you will need to set the ink according to the ink and fabric combination that you have chosen. But that is not my forte.)
Step 6
At this point I like to also trace over the printed writing with my Faber-Castell PITT pen….. it gives the quilt label a more hand-done look, makes the writing darker and gives me peace-of-mind that it is permanent. Tip: doing the tracing under a magnifying glass makes it easier to do a neat job.
Step 7
Remove the freezer paper. Trim the fabric label to a quarter inch larger all round than you want the printed piece to finish at. Now add thin strips of a contrasting fabric around the edge. My strips used here were 1.25″ because they were scraps that I already had. But I usually use strips that are 1.5″ to 2″ wide.
Step 8
Turn all the outer edges under 1/4″ and press flat. Use a tiny spot of Elmer’s Washable School Glue to tame the corners if you need to and iron dry.
Step 9
Top stitch around the edge of the label, 1/16th to 1/8th inch in from the edge to secure the turned under edges. This gives a lovely secure edge to work with. Pin the finished label to the quilt and attach by hand with ladder stitch.
And now, do a happy dance because you are done! That’s one down…. four more to go before the end of the month to reach my One Monthly Goal!
And speaking of the end of the month…….
Beary Colourful Quilt and Monthly Color Challenge reminders!
Don’t forget that it is nearly time to link up your blue creations for February at Patterns by Jen! Yes, Really! February’s a short month and the prize linky opens on Wednesday already! Don’t panic!!! Whip up a blue bear or block over the weekend and you’ll be in with heaps of time for your chance to win that $25 gift voucher from The Fat Quarter Shop. I’ll remind you when the link opens.
To finish off today, here’s some of the beautiful blue bear photos that have come my way over the interwebs lately. Have you got one to show me? I’d love to see. It doesn’t matter if they are this month’s bear, or whether you are working on the red bear, or have changed all the colours….. all Beary Colourful family bears are welcome here!
P.S. If you’d like to do further reading about labelling quilts, you might like to try these resources:
Lost Quilt.com: Labeling Your Quilts
Seven Ways to Label Your Quilt
P.P.S. Sharing on Crazy Mom Quilts, Love Laugh Quilt, Cooking Up Quilts, Freemotion by the River, Quilting Room with Mel, Quilt Fabrication, Sew Fresh Quilts, Inquiring Quilter.
Sad to say,I’m very delinquent when it relates to labeling my quilts. I always have great intentions, but rarely do I follow through. Maybe I’ll get better. I do hope so.
I was taught to label my quilts from the beginning. I have used the fabric pens on my first quilts, but now I embroider my labels and incorporate the embroidery into the backing of the quilt so when I quilt it, it becomes a part of the quilt that is permanent. I also avoid hand stitching the label down as well and that is a win in my book! I was taught to put the quilt name, recipient, my name, city, state and date.
I actually gave a class on quilt labels. There are sooo many ways to add a little fun with quilt labels. Pen and ink, fabric markers, machine embroidery just to mention a few. I also look at the theme of the quilt and prepare a label to match. The possibilities are endless with just a little imagination.
Lynn
I’ve been bad about it, just printed a batch of 10 labels and now need to sew them on their quilts!
Thanks for telling us your technique. I have an ink jet printer and use a similar process. Thanks for the hint about the “best” masking tape and your favorite pen. I found a source for pre-cut freezer paper. Time saver for sure, but maybe a bit more expensive.
I’m so like you! I know the importance of labeling and do it for quilts heading to shows or as gifts, and put off the ones that stay because it’s boring. Need to add that to my To Do list so it gets done! Thanks for linking to Wednesday Wait Loss.
Labels are not my favorite thing either. I usually batch a bunch together on one plain white piece of fabric ironed to freezer paper, then put it through an ink jet printer. Of course, I do this for labels that won’t be washed, cause the print probably won’t last. For other quilts, I’ll embroider a label – washing safe!
Great information Dione, I am bad at not putting labels on quilts unless it is required. Thanks for sharing all of the great info.
It’s funny because a week or so ago, I “preached” about the necessity of putting labels on quilts. I didn’t talk about how and your instructions on how to do it were perfect! My reason, besides the one you mentioned, was my Aunt Marie. She made gorgeous quilts, all hand done. There is not a label on any one! I have no idea when they were made and why. It made a believer out of me.
I’ve put labels on my quilts almost from the beginning. I used to embroider them, then I did them with with fabric and pens, now I use printable fabric sheets, so I can jazz them up even more. In addition to adding the label, I also include a quilt documentation form. It has all sorts of information on it, including my name, the recipient’s name and address, why I made the quilt. The quiil’s name, pattern or designer (if not me), fabric content and manufacturer, type of piecing, type of quilting, and washing instructions. It also has at least three photos – the front, the back, and the label. This also gives me a nice record of the qui,t’s I’ve made.